Sunday 23 December 2012

Christmas Shopping Frenzy to save the economy?

It is the time of year for hoary old chestnuts and surely this is the most common one. Every year there is a comparisons with like for like sales from the year before, no matter that in recent years relatively strong inflation means that actual falls in sales revenues must be a disaster.

Instead we get treated to TV programmes and news discussing just how many people can get into the Metrocentre or Bluewater. It is all nonsense in the scheme of things, people buying lots of imported goods won't make too much of a difference to the economy, although it will keep a few shops going.


The bit that really exercises me is the sight of of all these poor men being dragged along! What are they thinking. Christmas Eve, the traditional time to buy presents is not until tomorrow and even then the garages are open until past 10pm. What is the Country coming too?


16 comments:

Electro-Kevin said...

One of the benefits of shift work is being unavailable for such things as being dragged around shopping malls... and to her relatives' houses...

Blue Eyes said...

I did most of my Christmas shopping a couple of weeks ago. No idea what got into me!

I am very unoriginal when it comes to gift-buying. Luckily we have a list system in the family...

Bill Quango MP said...

British Retail Consortium send out a propaganda press release about the 23rd every year. It's always a heroic soviet era style tractor stats missive.
More Furbys sold than ever before. Tallest Pizza Hut Pizza eaten etc. every year is better than the last! Only the 2010 snow year, which was so bad it effected the economy did they allow things might not be better.

Christmas like for likes usually aren't judged until the 2nd January when the Jan Sales data is in. Too many variables on moving dates.

This year the schools broke up late. That means a very late surge on the high streets this weekend that is often much better for local rather than out of town business. It will be busy right up till the doors close, especially the supermarkets. It hasn't been like this for a good few years. So plenty of good news will be being reported, even if it is wiped off later by the very slow start to December.

BQ Industries was ahead of the game by Wednesday, with only soft figures ahead. And average Post Xmas will see pluses all round.
Makes a nice change too.

Blue Eyes said...

I'm also guessing that tomorrow will be big because today is a Sunday so shops will be forced to close early for a reason I cannot remember.

Steven_L said...

Got mine sorted today. White Thomas Pink shirt for the old man (getting to that age where he'll have more and more funerals to go to and he always turns up looking scruffy) and a purple John Lewis jupmer for Mum, gift receipts in tact.

Got conned into doing that Yo Sushi all you can eat Sunday where they put all the fish skin crap out (for a second time) too. Wish I'd just gone to maccy d's for a double cheeseburger.

Going to buy the cheese and wine tomorrow, that'll be more like fun.

James Higham said...

indeed, Bill, what is it coming to? Merry Christmas to you and all at C@W.

Bill Quango MP said...

Lost the earrings for Mrs Q. Can't find them anywhere. So I'll have to go out..on Christmas eve!

Also, hunting for these earrings I discovered every top drawer in every bedside cabinet and telephone table and kitchen space contains 90% utter,utter crap.

andrew said...

I didn't know Ratners did Kitchen equipment.

Timbo614 said...

Merry Christmas to all. Just about to go shopping - see if there are any bargains to be had for presents! So takings will rise... :)

Demetrius said...

I have (too?) often said that the best way to boost GDP is to encourage everyone to simply drive around the M25 a few times, occasionally stopping at petrol stations and shopping centres. It looks like the BBC have taken me seriously.

dearieme said...

Our Xmas spending might do a bit for the Portugese economy: bottles of Madeira usually loom large.

Electro-Kevin said...

Happy Christmas, y'all.

gsd said...

Pre-broadband, I was absolutely hopeless at pressy shopping - always left too late & chosen by what the shops had (rather than the ideal). That, combined with the hoards of shoppers/tourists we tend to get here in Bath, made the whole experience a real pain. However nowadays, thanks to Amazon et al, its a pretty painless experience. [I can almost hear BQ grinding his teeth at that last sentence, but you've got to love the interweb!].

The only shopping we had to do today was picking up the turkey & a Morrison's visit (booze & food), so I'm feeling pretty damn good about the whole thing atm - no "bah, humbugs" in this household!

I wonder if an analysis of spending/sales patterns of the last 10 yrs or so would show that the traditional pre-xmas spike has just been spread over the early part of the month (mainly by lazy buggers like me using their keyboards,mice & armchairs). I reckon that nowadays I spend quite a bit more than before, especially since lugging things around in the rain/cold is no longer necessary.

Merry Christmas to all.

Budgie said...

Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year (especially that) to the owners and commenters on Capitalists@Work.

measured said...

Happy Christmas to one and all.

Bill Quango MP said...

GSD: Pre Christmas spike is indeed much earlier. The 5th or 6th December is the busiest day for shopping online. Mostly due to the long lead times on delivery. Items CAN take 15 days to deliver.

I buy about 1/2 online- 1/2 in stores. But I'm in towns anyway, so its no real hardship. Pretty busy 24th today in most places.
What I did note was the pop up Christmas shops really only had cards and wrapping. A lot less toys and gifts than usual.

Lot of sales start boxing day. I never go. That's really too busy. But there is great stuff in those boxing day sales. Its the last push of the year to take some cash and clear some space.

And a very Merry Christmas to you all.